Mr. Richardson's latest article on sobriety published in Spotlight on Recovery (March 2012).
Words are important. In sobriety, especially so as they are windows to our minds' inner workings and to our charted courses in recovery.
HEALING THROUGH WORDS
I can tick of the
worst of my times today with some ease: Child sexual abuse, addiction, coming
out, early recovery, prison, and then cancer. As I was going through some of the
really bad times, I felt most alone. I thought that no one knew the pain and
suffering I did. I look back today and wonder, How did I do it? and then I remember, Corey, you were never truly alone.
I had help, even
in the worst of times. Even when it was only a letter, a kind comment from
someone that cared, or some little something I read, it led me to not give up –
not just yet. My mother was number one and still is and there is a long litany
of “angels” who popped out of nowhere, and then those who were in the “fox
hole” with me.
I also realize
that as I was climbing out of my hole, helping others in this journey was a
large part of helping myself. Be it in meetings and support groups, the mentoring
and educating opportunities, or writing. These were a big part of not only
enduring – but growing in the tough times. Taking the pain and turning it into
gain. It sounds trite, but while I was going through it, I was becoming this
person with a voice.
It was awkward at
first, then I felt comfortable expressing myself in many ways. It grew slowly.
At first, I could help individuals in a one-to-one situation or several people
in therapy groups – and they were a sounding board as I kept trying to
understand my unfolding life more clearly. Then people began asking me to speak
at functions, like when I speak to At-Risk Youth. I was even recently asked to
speak about prisoner re-entry at the National Legal Aid and Defender Conference
in DC. My voice through the written word has been published in dozens of
articles also effected change in a national way as I highlighted problems with
the prison systems and the criminal justice system, or when I wrote about the
life of a prisoner or about my recovery. My “voice” even won a
precedent-setting lawsuit against the State of Kentucky
So, my message to
you is this: If you are hurting, EXPRESS
IT. Find your voice. In doing so you
are embarking on a journey of healing. Yourself and the others you meet who are
on the same journey. You are never completely alone, and your attempts to
express yourself as part of your own recovery – be it cancer, abuse, addiction,
or even prison - are reaching others in numerous way. Your recovery can grow
and grow in amazing ways through this process. You truly cannot imagine what
good you will accomplish. Don’t try imagining – just begin the work today…..
One word after another.
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2 comments:
Thank you. I needed to here this.
Thanks, I needed to hear this.
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